This sister rivalry game was fun. At least for one team.
Never mind the points, just enjoy the game. That was the mantra of the Creamline Cool Smashers heading into the much-anticipated sister rivalry match against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, in the early elimination round of the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
It clearly paid dividends as the defending champions cruised to a
lopsided beating of Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14."Start pa lang sinabi namin, 'Choco Mucho ang kalaban natin. Napakasayang laban nito. 'Wag na nating intindihin 'yung score, basta tayo maglaro lang nang maglaro," Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said after the game.
Like the thousands of fans who flocked the Araneta Coliseum on Valentine's Day to watch the sibling rivalry, Meneses said the Cool Smashers were excited to face off the Flying Titans. More so that Choco Mucho now has a healthy roster.
"Talagang nag-enjoy mga player. Excited silang makalaban 'yung Choco Mucho nang kumpleto," Meneses said. "Two conferences nang 'pag maghaharap ang Choco [Mucho at Creamline] is talagang kulang din sila, e."
Choco Mucho middle blocker Maddie Madayag came back this season after a lengthy recovery period from an ACL injury. Although, she was limited to just one point against the Cool Smashers.
Creamline, on the other hand, is missing team captain Alyssa Valdez, who
continues to rehab her injured knee."Kami naman 'yung bawas," Meneses said in jest.
Creamline may have been missing Valdez, but the team remains perfect in its title defense bid, winning three straight matches without dropping a single set. And cooling down this hot streak doesn't seem to be among the vocabulary of the Cool Smashers.